500-year-old ship skeleton unearthed in Barcelona reveals medieval maritime secrets
A remarkable Medieval ship has been unearthed in Barcelona, Spain, at a significant archaeological site, offering insights into the city’s rich maritime past.
The Barcelona Archaeology Service has announced a discovery of “special relevance” at a former Mercat de Peix (fish market) location. As plans move forward to develop the historic area into a hub for scientific innovation, archaeologists have excavated numerous remains, with the most impressive being the skeletal structure of a 15th–16th century ship that was lost during a storm.
“The findings reflect Barcelona’s historical maritime transformation,” a press release stated. Historical records indicate that Barcelona installed its first artificial piers in 1439, a development that significantly altered the city’s coastline. Notably, the Tasca, a sandbar that had served as a natural protective barrier for the city, disappeared as a result of these changes.
A skeleton ship emerges from the sands
Lead archaeologist Santi Palacios informed The Guardian that the recovery team anticipated the potential for finding boat remains given the site’s proximity to the port and a protective artificial stone quay. During the 15th and 16th centuries, the area would have been a submerged working zone.
After two years of excavation work, a wooden structure began to materialize from the sandy ground. The initial discovery was a ruined stern section. Subsequently, a framework consisting of over thirty curved wooden ribs and seven hull planks, fastened together by nails, gradually rose 18 feet from the ground, once again seeing daylight. The discovery has been heralded as “exceptional.”
The 32-foot-long and 10-foot-wide ship exhibits a skeleton design characteristic of the Mediterranean region during the late Middle Ages. Due to its fragile state, with any exposure to air posing a risk to its condition, archaeologists have employed sand to preserve its integrity while crucial tests are conducted.
“The wood has to be kept constantly damp to keep it in a good state,” Delia Eguiluz, a restorer, told The Guardian. “When we move it, we’ll have to dismantle it piece by piece so we can continue our research.”
Current methods being utilized include photogrammetry, a technique involving the extraction of reliable measurements from photographs to create three-dimensional models. This allows archaeologists to record the precise state and shape of the shipwreck in detail without any physical manipulation of the structure itself. The team is currently mapping the site, meticulously labeling the extraordinary find, and collecting samples for further analysis.
The second ship ever found in Barcelona
The next step of the restoration will involve lifting the precious relic of the past out of its former watery grave to a facility where it will be treated with water-soluble wax to reinforce the 500-year-old structure, as per The Guardian. The research team hopes that a detailed analysis of the ship’s timbers and nails will yield valuable information regarding shipbuilding techniques of the era, as outlined in the press release.
The ongoing two-year project at the future innovation hub has already yielded numerous significant archaeological finds, including an air raid shelter, remnants of a Bourbon Citadel, and a building that was part of the Universal Exhibition of 1888. The discovery of this old maritime vessel holds additional importance as it is only the second ship archaeologists have unearthed in Barcelona to date.
“The discovery of “Ciutadella I” complements and enriches the knowledge obtained with “Barceloneta I,” offering a more complete vision of the diversity and complexity of medieval maritime activity in Barcelona, and consolidating the city as a key point of the trade routes of the time,” the press release concludes.
Source: Interesting Engineering
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500-year-old ship skeleton unearthed in Barcelona reveals medieval maritime secrets